Dates for the Diary

After the Branch AGM and Carrying Stream Session on Tuesday 13 November, we are looking forward to our next events.

Next session is Tuesday 11 December - feel free to bring your Christmas and/or Yuletide songs! And we start the New Year off on Tuesday 8 January!

The Singers Gathering 9 February 2013 - One day of workshops, Muckle Sing and concert at Queen Margaret Hall and Low Port Centre, Linlithgow. The Muckle Sing will be taken by Sandra Kerr, who is tutor at the Newcastle University Trad Music degree course, as well as running community choirs including the massively popular Festival Choir at Sidmouth Folk Week for many years. (She may not thank me for this but you might also remember her in Bagpuss!)

We  have Barbara Dymock and Chris Marra lined up and Natalie Chalmers from Aberdeenshire in the Young Trad Singer slot. There is one extra item on the Sunday morning (Feb 10th): for players of English concertina, Sandra Kerr will do a workshop: to be held in a private house in Ecclesmachan (near Broxburn/Uphall). There will be a separate charge for this, and it's not suitable for complete beginners. If interested in this, please let us know on eltmsa@yahoo.co.uk NOW so we can assess potential numbers. Booking information will be available very soon.

Then it's Northern Streams 26-27 April 2013. More details as we confirm our guests but we can tell you that for those who saw them this year, Karin Ericsson Back and Maria Misgeld are definitely returning with the third member (Eva Rune) of their trio, Irmelin. Other acts will be announced as they are finalised.

And in case you have not yet seen information about the Edinburgh Norwegian Christmas Tree Ceremony later this week - here are the details:

The Lighting Ceremony, Thursday 29 November, 5.15pm, The Mound, Edinburgh

The Hordaland County Council gift a lovely Christmas Tree to the City of Edinburgh for every Christmas and the lighting up of the tree is the usual cue for the rest of Edinburgh's Christmas lights to be turned on.

Afterwards is the:

Traditional Advent Concert, Thursday 29 November, 7.00pm, St Giles Cathedral, High Street/Royal Mile

Featuring folk singer Reidun Horvel, Pianist Geir Botnen, Hakon Hogemo on Hardanger fiddle and Roots Choir with the Edinburgh University Chamber Choir. Entrance is free.

There are also events in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Kirkwall - for details check out:

http://www.norway.org.uk/News_and_events/culture/Christmas-Events/Norwegian-Christmas-Trees-in-the-UK1/

New season of sessions off to a 'craic'ing' start

We restarted the singing sessions last night with a cracker session - many old and new faces - and some visitors to Scotland enjoying a great number of songs. Themes ranged the obligatory lost loves, death through to the trams in Edinburgh plus a spot of Scottish Stepdancing to puirt a beul. 

Next session is on Tuesday 9 October - hope to see you there!

Summer singing sessions details

Summer is here (though maybe the weather isn't always understanding this point!). We have a singing session on Tuesday 10 July in our usual venue - downstairs at the Royal Oak, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LT. Drop in from 8pm until about 11pm (though sometimes it does go on later).

We take a wee break in August for the Festival - check out http://royal-oak-folk.com/ for what is happening during the month instead.

And then we restart on Tuesday 11 September again with our singing sessions!

Our next session is....

Great session last Tuesday - some new and well kent faces as well as visitors to Edinburgh who appreciated getting the lowdown on where else they could hear some trad music and song. Next session for your diary is Tuesday 12 June, 8pm onwards, downstairs at The Royal Oak, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh. Maybe see you there?

No rest for the music!

Now we are starting to recover from our fabby Northern Streams weekend - thanks to all those who came, performed, volunteered and had a good time! But we are always looking forward to our next music and song event which is our regular singing session on Tuesday 8 May, 8pm at the Royal Oak, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LT. It's free and all levels of ability are welcome to join us in song or come along and listen. See you there!

Northern Streams 2012 starts Friday (13-15 April)!

Northern Streams, in its ninth year is featuring:

• FUNI - Bára Grímsdóttir and Chris Foster, singers and multi-instrumentalists from Iceland
• Singer, Kim André Rysstad and hardanger fiddler, Lajla Buer Storli from Norway
• Jens Ulvsand, bouzouki player from Sweden and singer Jullie Hjetland from Denmark
• Daniel Reid (formerly Carlsson) on saxophone from Sweden and fiddler, Emma Reid - originally from Britain, who now lives in Sweden
• Rannveig Djønne, accordionist and singer/ fiddler/guitarist, Annlaug Borsheim from Norway
• Singers, Karin Ericsson Back and Maria Misgeld from Sweden

We have concerts, workhops for adults and children, and a Sunday afternoon singaround taking place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile (Saturday) and The Pleasance Complex (Friday and Sunday). Why not buy a weekend ticket for the best value of 3 concerts and 4 workshops (only £39/£29 available through the Ceilidh Culture Box Office).

We hope to see you at some point over the weekend! You can buy tickets from the Ceilidh Culture (Usher Hall) Box Office and The Scottish Storytelling Centre.

Further details are on our website www.northernstreams.org including videos of the performers - click on the logo to the right of this post.

First concert - Songs of Ice and Fire is 7.30pm tomorrow (Friday night) at the Pleasance, 7.30pm. If you need to call us it's 0795 191 8366 / 0786 661 1954.

Plus check out the details of the ‘bonus concert’ on Sunday evening at www.northernstreams.org - please note this is not covered by our weekend ticket deal.

Open Singers Session plus Northern Streams next week!

Our regular monthly Open Singers' Session: is next on Tuesday 10 April, 8.00pm. FREE!
Downstairs lounge, The Royal Oak, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT. All welcome.

Also click on the Northern Streams Logo to the right to go to wonderful new website for the event including the full programme, links to videos of performers, booking details and more. Its our ninth year of bringing the best Nordic and British music in one place - why not join us?

Memories of Mining Tonight!

We still have some tickets left for tonight's performance at The Pleasance Cabaret Bar (8pm start) featuring the talents of Ragged Glory, Scott Murray, Jim Bainbridge and Mick West.

Last week's concert in Glasgow was a cracker and both the songs and the stories behind them were fascinating. This is your chance in the east to get a taste of the mining industry and how it shaped aspects of Scottish life both now and then.

The concert has been featured on the STV Edinburgh site - click through to read the whole article:
http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/news/arts-culture/31428-stories-through-song-at-the-ceilidh-culture-festival/

See you tonight!

March 'Memories of Mining' Concerts

Tickets are now available for our joint concerts with TMSA Glasgow Branch drawing on the experiences of mining in Scotland over the years.

For more details, including performers (such as Ragged Glory pictured to the right) click below:

http://www.tmsa.org.uk/documents/MemoriesofMiningConcertLeaflet.pdf

Our Ceilidh Culture Event Tickets now on sale!

Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture was launched today with bagpipes, singing and a cake to celebrate ten years of highlighting traditional arts in the capital.

The Branch has three events you can take part in / buy tickets for...
'Memories of Mining' concert: Friday 23 March
Our Open Singers Session: Tuesday 10 April
Northern Streams 2012 Festival: 13-15 April

Details through the links on this page plus at www.ceilidhculture.co.uk

Remember our recent Muckle Sing event sold out so get your tickets quickly for our next set of events (except the session which is free of course!)

The Muckle Sing Sold Out!

Just to let you know that all tickets for The Muckle Sing on 18 February are sold out. We are creating a waiting list - for contact details to get on the list, see the leaflet in the post below. Just to say thanks to tescos in Linlithgow with their assistance with the refreshments!

Our Singers Session on Tuesday 14 February, 8-11pm at the Royal Oak, Infirmary Street is still open (and free) for those who want to come along!

Muckle Sing tickets going fast - book yours soon!

2012 is finally here and it's not long now until February and our Muckle Sing taking place on Saturday 18 February 2012, 10am to 5.30pm at the Queen Margaret Hall, Blackness Road, Linlithgow, EH49 7JA.

It's a day of workshops for community singing groups and individual singers, led by Janet Russell, as well as an opportunity for informal group performances. All welcome - from the beginner to the experienced performer and no need to be able to read music.

For more information click (or paste the link into your web address bar) to access the full leaflet including booking details:

http://www.tmsa.org.uk/documents/THEMUCKLESING2012.pdf

Diary dates for December & 2012 update!

Tuesday 13 December - our monthly Singers' Session which can have a festive theme or not. It all depends on what you want to sing (as long you won't get arrested for it! ;) 8-11pm at the Royal Oak as usual.

Tuesday 10 January- why not make a New Year's resolution to sing more and come to our friendly monthly Singers' Session? 8-11pm at the Royal Oak as usual.

Saturday 18 February - Muckle Sing 2012. Details coming soon of this fun day in Linlithgow.
In the meantime if you are looking to get your vocal cords in shape – you could visit the Scots Music Group website for details of their song groups and classes at www.scotsmusic.org/song/ as there is still room in a number of them.

Tuesday 14 February- what better day to sing about songs of love (and death - well that's usually what most folk songs are about!!) at our friendly monthly Singers' Session? 8-11pm at the Royal Oak as usual.

Tuesday 13 March- you don't need to be as mad as a March hare to come to our friendly monthly Singers' Session! 8-11pm at the Royal Oak as usual.

Friday 23 March - The Music & Songs of Mining Concert, The Pleasance. This will be part of Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture and being organised in partnership with TMSA Glasgow Branch - there will be a partner concert on Friday 16 March in Glasgow.

Tuesday 10 April- Our friendly monthly Singers' Session, 8-11pm at the Royal Oak as usual.

13-15 April - Northern Streams 2012 featuring music, song and dance from Scotland and Scandinavia - also part of Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture.

Lots of diary dates coming up - so pay attention!

Friday 28 October, 7.30pm - TMSA Young Trad Tour comes to Howden Park centre, Livingston - your best chance to see it near to Edinburgh! Box Office 01506 777666 or http://www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk/

Saturday 5 November, 2-5pm - TMSA National AGM, National Piping Centre, 30-34 McPhater Street, Glasgow G2 0RT.(Plus another opportunity to see the TMSA Young Trad Tour in the evening at the same venue - 7.30pm start: Box Office 0141 353 0220).

Sunday 6 November - your last chance to see the TMSA Young Trad Tour on tour in Scotland at Coldingham Village Hall Box Office: www.coldingham.info/store

Tuesday 8 November - Branch AGM at 6.45pm followed by our regular monthly Singers Session from 8pm, downstairs at the Royal Oak, Infirmary St, Edinburgh EH1 1LT.

Sunday 13th November - Carrying Stream Festival Session, 3.30pm - 7pm approx. Downstairs at the Royal Oak we will be commemorating the life of Ray Fisher, who sadly passed away just a few weeks ago. So if you know any songs that were in Ray's repertoire, do bring them along: if you don't, just come and sing or play whatever you know/like best! The session will be hosted by Susan and Paul Streater.
See: http://www.tradmusichall.com/RayFisher.html and several clips of her singing on Youtube.

As well as our session, Edinburgh Folk Club will be holding the 10th Carrying Stream Festival in memory of Hamish Henderson at the Pleasance from 9th-16th November (our session being in partnership with EFC). Full details soon to appear on their website at: http://www.carryingstreamfestival.co.uk/csf11.htm

Tuesday 13 December - our monthly Singers' Session which can have a festive theme or not. It all depends on what you want to sing (as long you won't get arrested for it! ;) 8-11pm at the Royal Oak as usual.

Tuesday 10 January- why not make a New Year's resolution to sing more and come to our friendly monthly Singers' Session? 8-11pm at the Royal Oak as usual.

Saturday 18 February - Muckle Sing 2012. Details coming soon of this fun day in Linlithgow.
In the meantime if you are looking to get your vocal cords in shape – you could visit the Scots Music Group website for details of their song groups and classes at www.scotsmusic.org/song/ as there is still room in a number of them.

Tuesday 14 February- what better day to sing about songs of love (and death - well that's usually what most folk songs are about!!) at our friendly monthly Singers' Session? 8-11pm at the Royal Oak as usual.

Tuesday 13 March- you don't need to be as mad as a March hare to come to our friendly monthly Singers' Session! 8-11pm at the Royal Oak as usual.

Friday 23 March - The Music & Songs of Mining Concert, The Pleasance. This will be part of Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture and being organised in partnership with TMSA Glasgow Branch.

Tuesday 10 April- Our friendly monthly Singers' Session, 8-11pm at the Royal Oak as usual.

13-15 April - Northern Streams 2012 featuring music, song and dance from Scotland and Scandinavia - also part of Edinburgh's Ceilidh Culture.

Next Singers' Sessions and Branch AGM

If you like singing - particularly songs that have a something folky about them - why not come along to our regular monthly Singers' Session in the Royal Oak downstairs lounge (Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LT) next on Tuesday 11 October, from 8pm until 11pm? There's no admission charge and all who want to sing are welcome - whatever your ability or even language!

The November Singers Session will be on Tuesday 8 November, preceded by the Branch AGM starting at 6.45pm. Please come along to hear about the year's achievements and how you can be part of the next year's successes including if you have ideas for other activities.